Disconnectible universal joint



DISCONNECTIBLE UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed Jan. 10, 1945 fiorzaldAuDalfon Patented Jan. 25 1949 DISCONNECTIBLE UNIVERSAL JOINT Donald A. Dalton, Warsaw, Ind, assignor to The Dalton Foundries, Incorporated, Warsaw, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application January 10, 1945, Serial No. 572,141

1 Claim. 1

The present; invention pertains to universal joints, the general aim being to provide such a joint which is strong and rugged, economical to make in quantity production and which is adapted to serve as a readily disengageable coupling.

' Joints embodying the present invention find utility in various fields, one example being their use as a coupling for connecting an actuating I accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a disconnectible universal joint embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the joint of Fig. 1 with the handle portion shown in transverse section;

Figs. 3 and 4 are side elevations of the joint of Fig. 1 and with the handle portion shown respectively in operating position and in position suitable for efiecting assembly or disassembly of the joint.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but

it is to be understood that I do not thereby ini tend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

Referring more particularly to the exemplary embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, it will be seen upon reference to Fig. 1 that the particular joint there shown comprises a generally tubular socket member ID and a T-head l I. Protruding from the outer end of the socket in is an integral shank l2 of slightly reduced outer diameter and having an axial bore [3 therethrough to receive the end I4 of some member which is to be connected by the joint such, for example, as the operating screw of a scissors type jack. The inserted member [4 is rigidly secured to the shank l2 by a transverse pin l5.

The T-shaped head I I is in this instance shown as fashioned on one end of an elongated operating handle suitable for use with a jack. Thus it comprises a rod I 6 constituting the stem of the T and having an enlarged head I! of square cross section rigid therewith. Fixed in a transverse aperture in this head i1 is a transverse member of round cross section, fashioned, for example, from round bar stock or rock, and constituting thelaterally projecting arms l8 ofthe T-head, such arms being relieved to present diametrically opposite flat side faces l8 on each of them facing axially of the stem.

The laterally projecting arms I8 of the T-head are received in slots 19 in the socket member 10. Such slots extend longitudinally of the socket member along diametrically opposite sides of" the same and lead from the inner end of such socket member. The inner portions of these slots are of a width w (Fig. 3) slightly greater than the thickness to of the arms iii in a direction transaxially of the stem IS. The outer end portions of the slots l 9 are, on the other hand, of a reduced width w to define shoulders at 20 which are preferably slightly rounded in conformity with the contour of the arms l8. The width W of the narrow ends of the slots [9 is less than the thickness w of the arms [8 in a direction transaxially of the stem l 6 but slightly greater than the thickness 10 ,of these arms between the fiat faces l8 that is, in a direction axial of the stem it. By reason of this relative dimensioning of the parts, the arms l8 can pass through the narrow open ends of the slots l9 only when turned in the position shown in Fig. 4 in which the stem or handle it lies substantially at right angles to the axis of the socket member Hi. Once the arms l3 of the T-head II are entered into the enlarged inner portions of the slot I9, however, the handle 56 can be turned down into the position of Fig. 3 and in which latter position separation of the T- head H from the socket member Ii] is prevented by the engagement of the arms l8 with the shoulders 20. I

A third slot 2! is provided in the side wall to the socket member l0 substantially midway between the diametrically opposed pair of slots id in order to afford clearance for the handle it when the latter is swung upward into the position of Fig. 4. It should also be noted that the enlarged inner portions of the slots i9 are of a length which is substantially greater than the minor thickness 20 of the arms l8 so that when the T-head H has been engaged with the socket member It (Fig. 3) the parts I i], I! are free to swing relative to each other about an axis normal to the plane of the T-head arms 18 through a substantial arc.

In using the joint illustrated the parts ii), i! are connected by entering the T-head arms E8 into the slots H) with the T-head H positioned relative to the socket member Ill as shown in Fig. 4. In other words, the stem of the T or handle 16 is located at right angles to the am's of the socket member I!) so that the flattened arms l8 may pass through the narrow outer ends of the slots l9. Once the arms l8 have thus been entered into the enlarged inner portions oi. the slots IS the handle I6 is swung down into the position of Fig, 3, whereupon the assembly of the parts is complete. Having thus connected the T-head H with the socket member ID these two members IO, M may be moved relative to each other with a substantially universal motion of wide angular limits without danger of inadvertent disengagement. To disengage the "T-izhread .II from the socket member -lfi it is necessary only to turn the handle or stem IS in :the right angle position of Fig. 4 and then withdrew the arms 18 through the narrow outer endsof the slots 1.9.

When a device like that described is used for connecting a handle to the operating screw of a .scissors type j.ack,t'he principal loads imposed during operation are torsional. In other words, the principal load encountered is :that incident to turning the handle it for revolving the operating screw of .the jack. Such load is imposed by way of forces applied from the Tr -head arms 58 against :the side walls of the inner portions of the slots 1 9 so that there is little danger of da aging the joint even under heavy loads. On the other hand, the shoulders 20 need not be of very great area, since tension loads on the handle I5. tending to pull the :arms 1.8 past the shoulders .20 '(while in the position of Fig. 3), are comparatively minor so that there is little tendency to distort the socket member ill by spreading the outer ends of the slots Ill. It will thus be seen that azstrong and rugged joint has been afforded which "can be manufactured at .low cost in view of its overall simplicity of construction. Moreover, it can be readily assembled and disassembled by even :a comparatively unskilled user and without necessity of any complicated set of instruction.

I claim as my invention:

.A disconnectible universal joint for operating an automobile jack or the like comprising, in

combination, a T-shaped head including a stem with a pair of generally cylindrical arms projecting laterally at opposite sides thereof, said arms being relieved to provide diametrically opposed flat faces and assembled into the stem with their major diameters disposed in a direction trans-axially of the stem and their minor di- .ameters disposed in a direction axially of the stem, a tubular socket member internally dimensioned to receive said head and having longitudinal slots at diametrically opposite points in its side walls opening at the ends of the memher for the reception of said arms, said slots having a width adjacent their inner ends slightly greater :than the major arm diameter to permit the head to rock freely about the longitudinal axes of said the outer end portions of said slots having a width slightly greater than the 'minor arm diameter and defining inwardly facing shoulders operative to confine said arms within the inner -portions of said slots when said stem is disposedin :any position other than normal to the of :said socket member said inner portions of :the slots being of sufiicient length to permit 'latera'l rocking of the head with said arms fulcrumed on the shoulder in either of said slots, and said socket vrneiroher also having a third slot opening from-said one end and extending longitudinally thereof substantially midway between said first mentioned slots to afford clearance for swinging said stem into a position normal to'the :axis of socket member whereby :to pr esent'iihe minor diameter of said arms for insertion through or removal from the first mentioned slots.

DALTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references "are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 283,940 Wheeler .Aug. 28, 1883 1,036,144 Plank- Aug. 20, 1912 1,447,934 "Edwards Mar. 6, 1923 1,478,324 Dina Dec. 48, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 341,586 Great Britain 1931 778,354 France 1935 

